Cybersecurity Career Q&A: 5 Questions with Tim Mackie, Channel Sales Leader at Armis

Note to readers: This blog post is part of the Armis cybersecurity career Q&A series where we explore how people advance their careers in the industry by spotlighting some of the talented people that make Armis the leader in unified asset intelligence and security.

In this Q&A blog post, we meet Tim Mackie, Channel Chief at Armis. Tim is a seasoned professional in the technology industry with a rich history in sales and channel management. He is a Dallas resident, a father of four, a military history enthusiast, an 80s music fan, and a car aficionado. His passion for his work is evident in his enthusiasm for the role he plays at Armis and the impact he has on the company’s growth.

Question 1: Can You Tell Us a Bit About Your Role at Armis?

As the Channel Chief at Armis, I manage the network of partners that help us sell our product to end users. This includes resellers, distributors, GSI, MSSPs, and marketplace. It’s a role that puts me in the middle of everything, interfacing with sales, product, pricing, and legal teams. It’s a role that I thoroughly enjoy as it allows me to be in the hub of information and work with every part of the company.

Question 2: What was Your Career Path? How Did You End Up in Cybersecurity?

My career path has been quite diverse. I started off as a headhunter, then moved into financial consulting. I sold knives door to door in college and even worked as a stockbroker before getting into technology about 30 years ago. I started off in sales in the networking space and then had to choose between territory sales and channels. I chose channels and started off as an OEM account manager, then managing distribution, and eventually leading up to where I am today. I’ve carried a bag, I know what it is to do the job, and I think that helps me work with, relate to, and build the kind of things we need to do when building out a channel organization.

Question 3: What are the Challenges of Working in Cybersecurity?

One of the biggest challenges in my role is maintaining the level of growth that we need to hit our goals. When I first started at Armis two years ago, the challenge was different. We were in the phase of architecting and building the foundation. Now, the challenge is to maintain the momentum and velocity to propel us towards our goals. It’s gratifying to see the fruits of our labor, but we all want more and faster. That’s the nature of working in a startup.

At Armis, one of the things we did to enable this growth was to create the Armis Partner Experience (APEX) Program. It is designed to be flexible and evolve with Armis as we grow, and as our partners grow with us. As an evolution we launched APEX Manage, a purpose-built partner program for managed service providers (MSPs).

Question 4: What Does Armis Mean to You?

Armis, to me, represents opportunity and growth. I love this company and what we’re doing. I don’t dread Monday mornings; instead, I look forward to the work we have to do each week. It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s not just a team but feels like a family. I’ve worked for many different companies over three decades, and Armis is a unique place. It’s a place where I get to fulfill what I love to do on a day-to-day basis.

Question 5: Do You Have Any Advice for Anyone Looking to Get Into the Cybersecurity Field?

In my opinion, there’s no substitute for initiative, regardless of the industry you’re entering. This is particularly true for young people looking to break into a new field. It’s crucial to always be proactive, to dive in, to be open to sharing your thoughts and ideas, and to volunteer for tasks. This is essentially the foundation of good work ethics, which is applicable across all industries. However, in a fast-paced field like cybersecurity, this becomes even more critical.

Let me share an example. We have a couple of team members who are relatively new to the industry and the workspace in general. What sets them apart is their willingness to take the initiative. When I pose a question or express a need, they don’t wait for further instructions. Instead, they take the initiative to craft what they believe I’m asking for and then check back with me to see if they’ve understood correctly. This proactive approach not only saves time but also leads to further productive discussions.

People with such initiative are the ones I value and would consider for future roles or promotions. We all start from the bottom, and it’s never in the middle or at the top. So, for those breaking into their first role in technology or specifically in cybersecurity, my advice would be to learn as much as you can about the space and always take the initiative. This is the advice I always give because I believe it’s the key to success in any field.

Armis have career opportunities around the globe. Find out about our career opportunities.